Paul Nightingale
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paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale
@paulnightingale.bsky.social
2.8K followers 3.2K following 1.2K posts

Professor of Strategy at SPRU.

Associate Dean of Research, University of Sussex Business School. #1 in UK for research income.

Editor Research Policy.

Acting Director HSP.

Views mine, not my employer. Politics unfashionable since 1654 .. more

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Economics 31%
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paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · Jan 7

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 2h
...productivity is a tiny fraction of the median firm in their sector and geographic area. And miniscule compared to the top 1%.

It's so poor I'm going to have to check this again...

But clearly the mainstream and Schumpterian models of market exit are deeply misleading.

Big barriers to exit!

Reposted by Alex Coad

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 2h
I'm extending research we have been doing on marginal undersized poor performance firms, looking at their labour productivity.

The length of the long tail of poor performance firms in the UK is well known but still striking.

But the depth of that tail is a real shocker. Their labour ....

Reposted by Richard Shaw, Samantha Brennan, Leo McCann , and 2 more

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 7h
'Record numbers of Swedish retirees are enrolling in a university run “by pensioners for pensioners” amid increased loneliness and a growing appetite for learning and in-person interactions.' 1/2
‘Keeps your mind alert’: older Swedes reap the benefits of learning for pleasure
Retirees with ‘fantastic hunger for education’ taking part in university organised events in record numbers
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

lrb.co.uk
London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 20h
‘Gaston Bachelard is inviting us to go beyond what we think we know. That is, how to counter boring intuitions with interesting ones. But who is to say which is which?’

Michael Wood on the philosopher of science.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Michael Wood · Spellbound Gloaming: Bachelard’s Dreamwork
Gaston Bachelard is inviting us to go beyond what we think we know. That is, how to counter boring intuitions with...
www.lrb.co.uk

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 23h
Reupping this.
paulnightingale.bsky.social Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 1d
This is my recommendation for music today.

Ramsey Lewis Trio

You can thank me later.

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 1d
This is my recommendation for music today.

Ramsey Lewis Trio

You can thank me later.

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 1d
Happy Christmas for academics...
johnholbein1.bsky.social John Holbein @johnholbein1.bsky.social · 1d
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."

Public Universities FTW!

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Axel Bruns, David N. Thomas , and 10 more

petetheref.bsky.social
Pete @petetheref.bsky.social · 1d
The Embassy staff of Germany, France and the United Kingdom sing Schedryk in the Kyiv underground.
Wonderful!

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 1d
This had a huge impact on later 20th century thought.

Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Alistair Munro, Michael A. Clemens , and 12 more

johnholbein1.bsky.social
John Holbein @johnholbein1.bsky.social · 1d
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."

Public Universities FTW!

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 1d
And you!

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

liberalcurrents.com
Liberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 1d
"The Bloomsbury of the unbridled twenties unexpectedly turned out numerous disciplined Marxists around 1930." www.liberalcurrents.com/the-eclipse-...
The Eclipse of Thought
Michael Polanyi’s preface to his 1951 book The Logic of Liberty begins: “These pieces were written in the course of the last eight years. They represent my consistently renewed efforts to clarify th...
www.liberalcurrents.com

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

generalboles.bsky.social
General Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 1d
I love this country and its traditions, perhaps none more so than how Smithfield butchers are treated like rock stars on Xmas Eve

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social
John Simpson @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social · 2d
Video has emerged of Gen Xu Qinxian of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army at his court martial in 1990, explaining why he refused orders to crush the Tiananmen Square protests. Xu said he didn’t want to become “a sinner in history”. He was given a 5 year sentence.

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

us.theconversation.com
The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 2d
A genetic researcher who has spent a decade studying how new drugs are developed (after decades doing it himself) writes that NIH funding is crucial to the process, and has been a huge driver of innovation and economic growth.

The White House has proposed a 40% budget cut for 2026. buff.ly/KRt7a0g
How the NIH became the backbone of American medical research and a major driver of innovation and economic growth
The agency’s budget has grown steadily since the 1960s, fueling an industry that creates lifesaving medicines and attracts billions of dollars in investment.
buff.ly

Reposted by Fabián Muniesa, Paul Nightingale

lrb.co.uk
London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 2d
‘In addition to being a superb marketing tool, Doomerism is also an excellent distraction from the real-world harm being done by AI right here, right now.’

John Lanchester on the AI bubble.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
John Lanchester · King of Cannibal Island: Will the AI bubble burst?
Nvidia shares are the purest bet you can make on the impact of AI. The leading firms are lending money to one another in...
www.lrb.co.uk

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

journalspectre.bsky.social
journalspectre.bsky.social @journalspectre.bsky.social · 2d
Last piece of the year y'all! This one is a must read.

@shaneburley.bsky.social takes a deep deep dive into Richard Spencer's rebrand in order to illuminate the fringe right's movement dynamics, influence on the mainstream, and political impasses.

spectrejournal.com/varieties-of...
Varieties of White Nationalism – Spectre Journal
Shane Burley looks at Richard Spencer's rebranding effort to illuminate the movement dynamics and political impasses of the "dissident" right.
spectrejournal.com

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool, Paul Nightingale

bu-igs.bsky.social
Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability @bu-igs.bsky.social · 3d
Congrats IGS Director @sovacool.bsky.social on three major 2025 research citation honors!
Stanford's list of "World's Top 2%" scientists: spr.ly/63320CuXAO
ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholars: spr.ly/63323CuXAR
Clarivate's Highly Cited Researchers: spr.ly/63325CuXAT
Headshot of Benjamin Sovacool.

Reposted by Alex Coad, Paul Nightingale

hss.springernature.com
Humanities & Social Sciences @hss.springernature.com · 3d
In the digital age, leadership matters more than ever. 'Data Science MBA'—by @coad.bsky.social—just published in @springer.springernature.com. Discusses the skills of a data scientist & how digital transformation leads to new concerns surrounding ethics. bit.ly/4s28asS #BookSky #AcademicSky #EduSky
Data Science MBA: Big Data, Digitalization, and Strategy; With Applications in R

Reposted by Neil Lee, Paul Nightingale

fvanderwouden.bsky.social
Frank van der Wouden @fvanderwouden.bsky.social · 3d
Much of the research in economics and economic geography treats cities as “black boxes.”

We show that where #innovation happens within cities matters a great deal. Neighborhood #tech #clusters shape citywide innovation paths!

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Paul Nightingale

iprnickp.bsky.social
Nick Pearce @iprnickp.bsky.social · 3d
My Habermas review for the FT www.ft.com/content/9f89... Jürgen Habermas: Germany’s political and cultural phenomenon
Jürgen Habermas: Germany’s political and cultural phenomenon
Two new books bring fresh insights into the philosopher who has towered over seven decades of German public life
www.ft.com

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

davidosmond.bsky.social
Dave Osmond @davidosmond.bsky.social · 3d
Australia's main electricity grid, the NEM, will soon have 40GW/113GWh of storage (not including Snowy2.0).

That's enough storage to power the grid for about 4.5hrs at average demand of ~25GW
/1

Reposted by Brigitte Nerlich, Marcos Vera‐Hernández, Melanie Simms , and 3 more

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 3d
The Council for Science & Technology which advises the PM is looking for a new member ‘with social & behavioural science expertise’. Great opportunity to bring a social science perspective to the heart of policymaking. Apply by 19 Jan
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9075
Appointment details – Council for Science and Technology Member – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK
apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

digitalgoodnet.bsky.social
ESRC Digital Good Network @digitalgoodnet.bsky.social · 4d
We are asking individuals or small teams to produce blueprints, exploring what a good digital society looks like, focusing on an aspect of social life or societal institution (eg a family, museum, a practice like health tracking).

Learn more about our research fund: digitalgood.net/call-for-app...

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 5d
Who knew this theory was nonsense?

... great to see it tested properly.
johnholbein1.bsky.social John Holbein @johnholbein1.bsky.social · 5d
Clear evidence that at universities conservatives don't face higher obstacles than liberals to establish student groups + invite outside speakers.

"These results fail to offer support for the view that conservative students encounter more difficulty in efforts to access campus resources."

Reposted by Will Jennings, Linda J. Skitka, Scott L. Greer , and 14 more

johnholbein1.bsky.social
John Holbein @johnholbein1.bsky.social · 5d
Clear evidence that at universities conservatives don't face higher obstacles than liberals to establish student groups + invite outside speakers.

"These results fail to offer support for the view that conservative students encounter more difficulty in efforts to access campus resources."

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 5d
This is a great read.
p-hunermund.com Paul Hünermund @p-hunermund.com · 6d
"And so we have a bad equilibrium. Instead of stagnation causing a desire for and interest in pro-growth policies, it actually strengthens the pressures on politicians to wallow in that stagnation."

Good points!
chrisdillow.bsky.social Chris Dillow @chrisdillow.bsky.social · 6d
New substack: why so many people are content with economic stagnation: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/wallowing-...

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

p-hunermund.com
Paul Hünermund @p-hunermund.com · 6d
"And so we have a bad equilibrium. Instead of stagnation causing a desire for and interest in pro-growth policies, it actually strengthens the pressures on politicians to wallow in that stagnation."

Good points!

Reposted by Paul Nightingale

johnsipher.bsky.social
John Sipher @johnsipher.bsky.social · 6d
“Shaped by his KGB culture and witness to Soviet demise, any peace deal that can be perceived other than complete ‘victory’ – is no longer a policy option available…It would delegitimise the entire regime. Therefore, escalation becomes not a choice but a necessity.”

www.rusi.org/explore-our-...
Russia is Losing – Time for Putin's 2026 Hybrid Escalation
2025 offered the most generous potential off-ramp for Vladimir Putin. He rejected it.
www.rusi.org

paulnightingale.bsky.social
Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 6d
There are two things that make this worse - first a synergy between the populist right and left around antisemitism. You'd think they'd worry about how much their hate overlaps.

Second - shameful behaviour of academics playing to the "radical" crowd. It is shameless. They know but keep doing it.
paulnightingale.bsky.social Paul Nightingale @paulnightingale.bsky.social · 7d
So the gender balance of work shifts, men shift to the zero sum right in politics and women shift to the left. Lack of growth then makes the long term demographic problem worse.

It's a terrible dynamic.